Continuous polymerization of water-miscible polymers

Abstract

A continuous adiabatic process for preparing water-miscible and water-soluble polymers wherein an aqueous solution containing monomer and an initiator system is passed through a reactor and reacted to yield a rapid increase in viscosity as polymerization occurs. The polymer product exhibits consistent cross-sectional properties in the reactor over time and moves slowly and easily through the reactor as a plug.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A continuous adiabatic process for preparing water-miscible high molecular weight polymers which comprises passing an aqueous solution containing a water-miscible monomer mixture together with suitable initiators through a reactor, said monomer mixture being sufficiently reactive as to effect a rapid increase in viscosity as said monomer mixture is subjected to conditions sufficient to polymerize the monomer in the reactor, thereby forming the desired polymer product which exhibits consistent cross-sectional properties in the reactor over time, wherein said product so formed is in the form of a gel and moves consistently and easily through the reactor as a plug. 
     
     
       2. A process of claim 1 wherein said reactor is tubular in shape. 
     
     
       3. A process of claim 1 wherein the polymer is water-soluble. 
     
     
       4. A process of claim 3 wherein the monomer mixture comprises acrylamide or a mixture of acrylic acid and acrylamide. 
     
     
       5. A process of claim 1 wherein said aqueous solution comprises from about 6 to about 30 weight percent monomer based on the total weight of the aqueous solution. 
     
     
       6. A process of claim 1 wherein said polymer product is passed through a secondary reactor to reduce the amount of residual, unreacted monomer. 
     
     
       7. A process of claim 1 wherein said aqueous solution comprises from about 15 to about 30 weight percent monomer based on the total weight of the aqueous solution.